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Before the historic split between union and league 120 years ago, all things rugby was managed by one organisation. Maybe before too long, the same can happen again.
Today, just about anything with the word ‘rugby’ is administrated by World Rugby, formerly known as International Rugby Board.
Rugby union has flourished, boosted by greats like the late Jonah Lomu, the Michael Jordan of rugby. His persona is flanked by the all conquering, awe-inspiring All Blacks.
The sport’s popularity is also boosted by the mysterious and fearsome Springboks, dynamic and exciting Wallabies, upstart teams from Argentina and Japan. They are supported and propelled by the culture, traditions, economic power and influence of the home nations.
One of rugby’s greatest celebrations is the entry of the game as an Olympic sport this year. Even the richest contact team sport in the world, American football, cannot achieve this status.
As such, rugby is well on its way to becoming a mainstream game across the world.
However, that sport is actually not the real rugby union. Rather it is a variation called sevens, a very different game to the original 15-person game. But the variations do not end there.
There’s also 10s rugby, spawned in Malaysia during the era of flower power. The 10s game is an great spectacle as it forces teams to blend power, pace and space – like a hybrid of sevens and traditional rugby.
The other major format is the original variation that delivers a similar blend as 10s – the 13-person game, rugby league. The main difference here is that the people who created and operate league divorced from rugby union in 1895.
They did so for noble reasons, maintaining this nobility and a fierce independence, ensuring the welfare of any player who wishes to join their game, while listening and caring for the needs of clubs and their stakeholders.
These principles, were finally adopted by rugby union exactly one hundred years after the 1895 divorce, when they embraced professionalism. Twenty years on, rugby union has caught up and gone global.
Whereas the separation between the ‘two rugbies’ may have made sense through past generations, it is becoming less relevant as we reach the next.
League is a great game on its own and should experience international growth. In my opinion it deserves more international attention than sevens. League is easy to learn, play and watch, while losing none of the power and team work needed to make it work. But to achieve international growth, it requires a global organisation with the resources, network and recognition of an organisation like World Rugby.
A merger does not mean World Rugby and their nation bodies arbritrarily takes over league. For example, Australian rugby, could be managed by the NRL. But this will only work if administrations, coaches, players and fans from the ‘two rugbies’ stop trying to dismiss and destroy each other. There needs to be dialogue, negotiation and reconciliation.
While it is unfathomable that a merger would happen in this generation, more incredulous things have happened given enough time and opportunity. Examples include China’s entry to global trade, the end of the Cold War, peace in Northern Ireland and the reunion of The Eagles.
Though I’m not holding my breath, I believe if every other rugby formats can co-exist under one administration, I think a merger with the 13-man code is inevitable.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.